In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

KPMG
1 St Peter's Square
Manchester, Manchester, M2 3AE
United Kingdom

Colin Maclachlan

Instructor, Break-Point

Colin is a star of Channel Four's captivating reality TV drama SAS: Who Dares Wins. Colin joined the army in 1989 and after 9 years in the Royal Scots passed selection first time, aged 23, into 22 SAS. Colin has been on the frontline of hostage negotiations, including wading through stinking swamps in Sierra Leone to hunt down the West Side Boys, a guerilla gang holding 5 British soldiers hostage. Colin is now involved in TV and Radio and is a Patron for the Lee Rigby Foundation amongst others.

Danielle George

Professor of Radio Frequency Engineering, University of Manchester

Professor Danielle George is Vice Dean for Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. She is also a Professor in the Microwave and Communications Systems research group and is passionate about raising awareness of the positive impact engineering has on all aspects of our everyday life.

Diane Modahl

Chief Executive and Founder, Diane Modahl Sports Foundation

Diane is one of Britain's most successful 800m runners. She won a Gold Medal in the 1990 Commonwealth Games, and followed this up with a further Silver and Bronze Medal. She has competed in 4 Olympic Games. In 2010 Diane established the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation (DMSF) to inspire potential in people of all skill levels, particularly those living in some of the poorest areas across the UK.

Duncan Cockburn

Audit Assistant, KPMG

Duncan joined KPMG in 2014. Prior to this he spent three months living and working in a favela in Rio de Janiero where he experienced the day to day reality of poverty and saw first hand the shortcomings of Government intervention.

James Baker

Business Director, National Graphene Institute

James joined The University of Manchester as Business Director for the National Graphene Institute in 2014. He is developing industrial partnerships and collaborations to accelerate the commercialisation opportunities for Graphene - the so called "wonder material" which could change the world with what seems like endless applications and capabilities.

Kawika Solidum

Chief Executive, BeyondMe

Kawika is Chief Executive of BeyondMe, a social enterprise that motivates and mobilises professionals working in corporations to form teams that give their time, skills and money over a period of time to charities addressing pressing social problems. Kawika has over a decade’s experience working in the private and social sectors in the UK and the US. During his career he has specialised in corporate and political communications, advising global companies in the financial services and consumer goods sectors.

Lucy Clarke

Marketing Director, Social Chain

Lucy is the Marketing Director for Social Chain, the UK’s largest influencer network with over 200 million people following their social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reflecting on how she has found herself shaping the international expansion of a young social media agency, without a CV full of experience or a first-class degree, Lucy will be sharing her journey so far and why age, experience and academia needn’t hold anyone back.

Nick White

Managing Director, EIGER Standing Desks

Nick is Managing Director of EIGER Standing Desks. He is passionate about introducing healthier and more productive environments to both business and education through active working and learning. Nick is a true entrepreneur and part of the hugely successful RBS and KPMG backed Entrepreneurial Spark Business Accelerator Programme.

Nishay Nathwani

Audit Assistant, KPMG

Nishay joined KPMG in 2012 on the Audit School Leaver programme at Birmingham University. Alongside his studies and work, Nishay was a committee member of the Hindu society at university and has taken on an inclusion role on the Midlands Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Nishay believes that diversity is the spice of life.

Ollie Ollerton

Director and Co-Founder, Break-Point

Ollie is an energetic and a highly motivated former UK Special Forces Operative, with extensive experience in various international missions. Ollie is a cornerstone of the team that brought the Special Forces into the public eye with the Channel Four series SAS: Who Dares Wins. Ollie and his team are the UK’s first former UK Special Forces members to talk openly to the media and to reveal their true identities.

Rachel Kelly

Speaker & Author

Educated at Oxford University, Rachel Kelly spent ten years as a journalist at The Times. She is the co-editor of iF: A Treasury of Poems for Almost Every Possibility (Canongate, 2012) and is the creator of two poetry apps. Rachel gives talks and runs workshops across the country on the therapeutic value of the arts. Her new book is Walking on Sunshine: 52 Small Steps to Happiness (Short Books, 2015).

Rodney Schwartz

CEO and Founder, ClearlySo

Rodney is Chief Executive of ClearlySo, a leading UK firm raising capital for businesses and funds that create social impact. Rodney’s background is equities and investment banking with UBS, Lehman and Paribas, before transitioning into venture capital. He currently advises leading impact-focused businesses (such as the HCT Group and the Ethical Property Company), lectures at the Said Business School (Oxford) and at NIT (Hamburg, Germany), and is Chair of Spacehive.